The first time I saw this emperor penguin was inside our hut on Ross Island in the Antarctic. He was a full metre tall and just stood around looking at us all, being very friendly. The year was 1959 and I had travelled to Antarctica with the navy at the end of October, when summer was just beginning. We took lots of shots, making the most of the penguin's friendliness. I've even got one of him standing at the bar with all the navy people drinking to his health. He was very co-operative, if slightly bewildered. He just kept acting like he wanted more photos taken.

Eventually, we led him outside and left him alone, but he didn't want to leave. Finally, he wandered off down the road to the airport. I watched him go for a while and then took some pictures, including this one. I was shooting straight into the sun, but there's only a little bit of flare. I put that down to my Rolleiflex camera.

This was my first encounter with penguin psychology: I was impressed by how human they were, in their curiosity and in the way they walked. He looks like a businessman carrying a briefcase, or someone wearing a burqa. It would be impossible to take a picture like this today: there are now firm rules about getting near penguins. Basically, you have to keep well clear.

Photographer Robert McCabe recalls his visit to the Antarctic in 1959 where he encountered an unexpected visitor: 'He was wandering around the base unsupervised, formally dressed, extremely curious, friendly and completely fearless'